Cultivator tool clamp



Aug. 19, 1952 c, H,. 2} 2,607,278

CULTIVATOR TOOL CLAMP Filed Aug. 16, 1947 INVENTOR. CHARLES c. HILL H/S A TTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 1 9, 1952 'CUL'IIVATOR TOOL iCLAMf f: y

Charles G. Hill, Ypsilanti, 'Mich.' ApplicationAugust 16, 1947, Serial No, 769,061

1 This invention relates to improvements in clamps for cultivator'tools, and it relates particularly to'a novel type 'ofitool clamp and toolsupporting bar construction for use on or with tractors and other farming'equipmentfl The most commonly used form of toolbar constructions includes 'a-pair of bars'usually of "T-shaped cross-section with the tops of the Ts in opposition-and supported by a pair of spacer bars which may-bemounted on'a'tractor 'or other device.

I The tool clamp is a U-shaped memb-er having outwardly directed hook-like free "ends which engage the inner edges of theT-shaped" tool bars when the" base of the'clamp is'disposed between the toolbars. The U-shaped'clamp is provided with-a pair of opposed slots in its'sides through which'the shank of the cultivator'tool'is passed to engage the side or edges ofthe tool bar opposite to the *edge' engaged'bythe hooks on the ends of the U-shaped clamp. Thebase of the -U is usually provided with a square head 1 bolt which maybe tightened by means of 'a wrench to engage the-edge of the cultivator tool shank and force it against the tool bar to retain-the'tool in position. I

Th'e above-described construction, while better than' many of the clamps devised heretofore-has -a number 'of disadvantages. -For example, the

cultivator tools cannot be placed 'inalignment -with the spacer bars because the bars interfere with the clamps.-

Therefore, if it isd'esired to .lock the cultivator too1 inalignment with the spacer bars,;a tool withan offset shankmustqbe :used.

, If it is desired-to moveaclamp fI'OmTOIlB SldG of a spacer bar to the'other side of the spacer bar, it is necessary to remove the cultivator tool and-the clamp completely from the tool bar. 7 ISometimes, with the above described clamp, .it

"is not possible to obtain su'fiiciently stronglpres- .sure on the shank of the tool to prevent vibration. The maximum pressure that can be ob "tained with any convenient wrench anda single "bolt is about 1",000 to 1,300 poundsrand in many cases, such: pressure is not enough.

An object of "the'presentinvention'is to over- 7 come the above-noted disadvantages of the above-described clamp and tool bar construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide acIamp by-means of which substantially increased holding poweror pressure for retaining the cultivator-tool in positionmaybe obtained.

Another object of the invention is .to provide aclamp and tool bar construction which pertool bar.

'5 Claims. (Cl. 97-49851) mits the clamp and the tool held therein "to "be positioned any place alongthe tool bar with out removingthe clamp or the tool from :the

Other objects of the invention will became apparent from the following description of a "typical form of clamp and tool bar construct-ion embodying the present invention. In accordance with the present invention, 1

have provided a clamp for cultivator 'toolslwhich is ofgenerally C-shaped constructionhaving inturned hook-like ends to permit the clamp' to bepositioned around the exteriorofthe toolbar "so that the clamp can be shifted lengthwise'df the bar without interference from 'tlie 's'pacer bars. 'The clampis further provided with a 'lever construction producing a power multiplying "effect, whereby a hand screw'mount'ed in the lever can exert a substantially greater-pressure 'onthe shank of the tool to retain it in-position than is possible with an ordinary' bolt construction of the type commonly used heretofore.

The invention also includes-an improved form of tool bar which may be formed "of a pair-6f angle irons positioned with their apices or angles in opposition so that in cross-section they form oppositely disposed Vs. These angle irons may "be secured to the spacer bars in such relationship that the flanges of the angle'members-are disposed outwardly of the spacer bars for-engagement by the hook-like ends on the new clamp. In this way, the clamp may be ea'sily slid into any desired position along thetoolbar without interference'from the spacer bars, thereby facilitating the use of cultivator tools-inany desired position and eliminating the need for 0111- tivator tools having offset shanks. Moreover, because of the use of a simple handh'screw constructionwith the power multiplying 1ever'; there is less possibility of stripping the threads'on'ithe hand screw, and a wrench is not'requiredWfor shifting theposition of :orlocking the clampzand supportedtool in.a desired position. For a betterunderstanding'of the presentinvention, reference. may be; had to the: accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 isia view in sideelevation ofia typical formof cultivator tool clamp embodying the present invention illustrated as applied to the new spacer bar construction shown in cross-section andretaining aportion of a shank of a tool-in operating position; and r I Figure 2 is a plan view of thefclamp; shown applied to a portion of the new form of spacer bar. s

A typical form of tool bar and clamp construcsecured to the clamp 13.-

-may be screwed up against the-edge of the tion may include a pair of angle iron members l and II of suitable V-shaped cross-section and thickness which are mounted with their corners or apices Illa and Ha in opposition upon the tapered or chamfered ends |2a and |2b of one or more spacer bars l2. Usually two of such spacer bars are mounted in spaced relationship lengthwise of the angle members l0 and II. If desired, a greater number of the bars |2 may be provided, and the structure maybe further reinforced by a plate, not shown, extending lengthwise of the angle members l0 and II between their apices [0a and I017. As shown particularly 1' in Figure 1, the edges of the spacer bar. I2 are disposed inwardly of edges of the angle irons l0 and H, so that the inner flanges lilb'and Ilb be exerted against the shank S urging it tightly against the tool bar in opposition to the direction that the tool would normally be displaced when the cultivating tool is in use. Thus, if the length of the lever above the rod or shaft 2| is five times the length of the lever below the bar 2|, a force of 5,000 to 6,500 pounds may be applied to the tool shank by means of the hand screw. This is several times the maximum pressure or force that can'be applied by means of a bolt, as used in the conventional tool clamp.

In use,. the clamp l3 may be slipped over the end of the tool bar and shifted to any desired position along the tool bar without interference from the spacer bar or bars I 2. The shank S .of the tool may then be inserted through the extend outwardly beyond the edges of the bar |2j A typical form of cultivator tool clamp embodying the present invention and usable with the spacer bar construction described above includes a generally c-shapedmember l3 which,

as illustrated, mayhave a substantially flat-upper portion M, a longer flat lower portion I5 and a curved or straight portion l6 joining or connecting the portions I4. and I5. vThe left-hand ends ofthe portions- I4 and |5 are provided with portions M and I5 tightly against the outer edges of the members I0 and-.| I. The .flat portions l4 and I5 of the clamp -|3 bear againstthe edges .of both of the anglev members If! and H, and,

.30 The inclination of the hook portions ly byforces exerted thereon ,to press the fiat if-desired, these edges may-be bevelled to fit against the inside of the clamp l3.

As shown in Figure 2, the clamp I3 .is provided with a slot |9 which extends through the curved portion l6 and partially through the flat portions 14 and-|5 to a position preferably slightly inwardlyof the right-hand edges of the angle members |0-and II, as shown-in Figure-1. The

slot l9 receives the shank Sof a suitable cultivatortool. l

The shank S is retained in engagement with the tool bar construction bymeans of alever 20 disposed in the slot l9 and pivotally supported upon a rod or shaft 2| in thelower corner or portion of-the clamp ,|3 at about the junction tool bar are susceptible to considerable modiof the flat portion 5 and thecurved portionii l6 of the clamp. The rod or-shaft 2| may be spot or tack. welded or otherwisepermanently The upper end 2011 of the lever istwisted'at azright angle to the remainder of the lever '20. and is drilled and tapped in to receive the threaded end- 22a of a hand screw 22 so that the' end of the threaded portion 22a shank S by rotation of the hand'screw.

The lever 20 extends downwardly below the rod or shaft 2| to form a short lever arm so that as the upper end 20a is rocked clockwise by rotation' of the hand screw 22, the lower end of the lever is forced into engagement with the shank S of the tool. By properly proportioning the distances between pivotshaft 2|, the end 22a of the hand screw and the lower end of the lever 20, a power multiplication is obtained by means of which extremely high I pressure may the partof the user.

slot l9, and the hand screw 22 is turned up tightly so that the shank is forced against the outer edges of the angle members l0 and II, and the hooks H and I8 are drawn up tightly against the inner edges of the angle arm members I0 and H, thereby holding the clamp and the tool securely in position. If it is desired to adjust the clamp to another position along the tool bar, it is onlyv necessary to back off the hand screw 22 and slide the clamp along the tool bar to the desired position, after which the clamping screw is again tightened to fix the tool and the clamp in the adjusted positionQ The above-described device is highly effective in operation in that it permits quick and easy adjustment of a cultivator tool to any desired position along the tool bar. 'Moreover, such adjustment can be accomplished without the need for tools which may be lost or displaced, and the whole clamp assembly is so formed that there is little likelihood that any portion thereof will be lost except through extreme carelessness on In addition, the construction described above provides a more rigid support for the cultivator for the reason that the zones of contact between the tool shank and the tool bar. are more widely spaced than with prior arrangements and thereby prevents relative twisting or rocking movement between them. From the foregoing, it will be clear that thenew form of spacer bar and clamp constructionhas many advantages over prior constructions and overcomes the deficiencies of such priorflclamps and toolbars.

It will be understood that, the clamp and the fication in their size, shape and proportions without departing from the invention.- Therefore, the above-described form of the invention should be considered as illustrative and not as limiting shank portion comprising a tool bar having of the following claims.

flanges at its upper and lower edges, a substantially c-shaped clamp adapted to extend around the outside of said tool bar and having hook-like ends converging inwardly at an acute angle toward the back of said clamp to engage. behind at least one of said flanges at each of said upper and lower sides of said bar, a slot through said clamp for receiving said shank, a lever pivotally mounted on said clamp and disposed on the opposite side of said shank from said tool bar, and a member adjustably mountedv at one end of said lever for engaging said shank to rock the other end of said lever against said shank.

' 2. A clamp for use in connection witha tool at least one spacer member connecting said angle iron members with their angle portions in opposition and their edges directed oppositely and disposed outwardly of said spacer member, said clamp comprising a substantially C-shaped clamping member adapted to extend around the outside of said bar and having hook-like endsconverging inwardly at an acute angle toward the back of said clamp adapted to engage a flange on each of said angle iron members outwardly of said spacer member in all positions of said clamping member lengthwise of said angle iron members, a lever having a short lever arm portion and a longer lever arm portion pivotally mounted on said clamp in spaced relation to said hook-like ends, means forming a slot through said clamping member for receiving said tool shank between said tool bar and said lever, and a screw member threaded through the outer end of said longer lever arm portion for adjustment into engagement with said shank to rock said shorter lever arm portion against said shank.

3. A tool support for a cultivator tool having a shank, comprising a tool bar having forwardly and outwardly directed flanges at its upper and lower edges, a substantially 'C-shaped clamp adapted to extend partially around said bar and having inturned, rearwardly inclined free ends adapted to engage behind said flanges, a lever pivotally mounted in the back of said clamp having opposite ends forming a long lever arm and a shorter lever arm, a screw member threaded into the outer end of said longer lever arm, and means forming a slot through said clamp for receiving said tool shank between said inturned ends and said lever.

4. A tool clamp for detachably connecting a cultivator tool to a tool bar comprising a member having free end portions extending in substantially the same direction in spaced relation and a connecting portion therebetween, rear- Wardly inclined hook-like portions on said free end portions to engage said tool bar, a lever pivotally mounted on said member between said free ends and having substantially oppositely directed short and long lever arms, a slot through said member between said hook-like ends and said lever for receiving said tool, and a member mounted adjustably in said longer lever arm for engagement with said tool to rock said lever and urge said shorter lever arm against said tool.

5. A tool clamp for supporting a cultivator tool on a tool bar comprising a substantially 'C-shaped clamp member having forwardly projecting end portions and a curved back portion, hook-like ends inclined inwardly toward the back portion on said free end portions for engaging said tool bar, a slot extending through said back portion and partially through said forwardly projecting end portions for receiving said tool, a lever pivotally mounted on said clamping member for rocking movement on said slot, said lever having oppositely directed long and short lever arms, and a screw member threaded in the outer end of said long lever arm for adjustment into engagement with said tool to rock said shorter arm into engagement with said tool.

CHARLES C. HILL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references areof record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 211,657 Herzog Jan. 28, 1879 451,254 Barton Apr. 28, 1891 466,217 Bettendorf Dec. 29, 1891 521,272 Schauman June 12, 1894 929,140 Kohl et a1. July 27, 1909 1,463,353 White July 31, 1923 1,476,551 Strandlund Dec. 4, 1923 2,029,249 Noell et al. Jan. 28, 1936 2,070,155 Day Feb. 9, 1937 

